First-Timer Sleepaway Summer Camps near NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on

First time sleepaway campers at YMCA Camp Mason can learn to kayak and enjoy more fun in nature. Photo courtesy of the camp

Many NYC kids spend most of their summer break at sleepaway camp, but if you've got a first-timer, these starter sleepaway camps near NYC all offer shorter summer camp sessions geared toward younger children. For those who have a new (or extra-nervous) camper at home, we've rounded up the best one- and two-week starter sleepaway camps near NYC.

These starter sleepaway camps near NYC all have specific sessions aimed at first-time campers from ages 6-12 years old, ensuring that rookie campers have an amazing first-time sleepaway camp experience. Find all our top picks for sleepaway camps in the Northeast in our Summer Camp Guide for NYC Kids, and be sure to search our Camp Directory for more options. You can search by age, interest, or summer camp type.

Visiting Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton with Kids: What You Need to Know

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Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University has great places for kids to play or to sit quietly with a book.

Cotsen Children’s Library is a gem tucked away inside the Princeton University Library that my family and I stumbled on one day while wandering around Princeton's picturesque campus. Our kids were thrilled, and we adults were impressed too.

The library boasts whimsical places for older kids to sit and read, as well as exciting places for younger children to explore, like a Bonsai tree house. Cotsen also hosts regular events, including weekly storytimes. Read on for more details on this exciting children’s library.

And, if you're traveling to Princeton for the day, check out our Princeton roundup for more fun things to do with your family.

Intrepid Museum's Spectacular New Apollo Exhibit Is an Epic Look at the Space Race

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The Intrepid Museum's Space Shuttle Pavilion is the backdrop for a brand new exhibit dedicated to the advent of space travel.

The Intrepid Museum invites visitors to relive the space race this spring with a brand-new exhibition entitled Apollo: When We Went to the Moon, which opened just last week in the Space Shuttle Pavilion.

The largest temporary exhibit ever mounted by the museum, it's just another reason to love a visit to the Intrepid Museum with kids. Read on for a sneak peek of the exhibition, which is perfect for aspiring astronauts and history buffs alike, and find more fun exhibits in our NYC Kids Guide to Museums and Galleries.

20 Fun and FREE Things To Do in Chicago April 2024 With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Eclipse photo by Andrew Shirey. Courtesy of the National Park Service

Spring has sprung and our favorite things to do in Chicago include being outdoors. One thing to look at this month is the solar eclipse, which will reach 93% totality in some parts of the Chicago area. Check out eclipse-related events at the Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, or Pullman Park.

Get outside for Earth Day; you can help clean up litter in Cook County's forest preserves, make a recycled craft at Dvorak Park, or go for a run in Brookfield. 

For indoor activities, check out some great kids' theater this month, like Cloud Man at the Filament Theatre, Skunk and Badger at Lifeline Theater, or Beauty and the Beast at the Beverly Arts Center.

April weekends are the perfect time to play tourist in your city with our top 25 Chicago tourist attractions or get out of the city for a family hike.  And don't forget to book those summer camps, which are filling up fast in the city and suburbs. 

Here are our top things to do in Chicago with kids this April!

Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids April 2024

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on

Celebrate the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival in Hastings-on-Hudson this April. Photo courtesy of the festival

Spring into April in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with a jam-packed schedule of things to do, including festivals, shows, and outdoor fun. 

Spring has sprung, bringing with it many fun indoor and outdoor events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Our top picks for the month include a Super Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, which will include a presentation by a NASA scientist. There are also lots of great Earth Day celebrations in the area, including one at The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum that includes live music, hayrides, and furry friends.

Or, if you and your kids are music lovers, check out a special performance of The Music of Bob Marley for Kids at Garcia's at the Capitol Theatre by the Rock and Roll Playhouse.

Read on for all the local events you should plan on hitting this month. 

Best Free and Fun Things To Do on Long Island with Kids April 2024

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Wander through the gorgeous tulip fields at the Tulip Festival at Waterdrinker Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

From the solar eclipse to spring festivals, these are the best things to do on Long Island this April.

Welcome spring with a trip to opening weekend at Old Westbury Gardens, where you can revel in nature in the stunning formal gardens. Or, you and your fam can stomp into the first weekend of the month with Dinosaur Daze at the Garvies Point Museum.

This month also brings an awesome solar eclipse, and venues with viewing parties include the Long Island Explorium, which will have special viewing glasses on hand. You can also close out April with a free Earth Day celebration at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. 

Read on for all the ways to pack your calendar this month on Long Island. 

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